I RECENTLY LEARNED that the people who receive my WhatsApp voice messages are almost certain that they could live without them.

While I know – on some level – that I should have been vaguely insulted, I wasn’t even remotely humbled enough to consider taking my finger off the microphone icon.

In fact, I felt compelled to duck behind our table, and record a lengthy update for each and every one of them.

I know that this relatively new phenomena of leaving prolonged voice messages as opposed to essay-length text messages doesn’t appeal to everyone, but I find it handy.

If I have to provide a detailed update on something or – let’s be honest – rant myself hoarse, I find it much easier to whip out my phone and press record, than painstakingly type out a message; the characters of which could number in their tens of trillions.

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But no, this does not mean I’m up for phone calls; they’re a different ball game entirely and require full concentration from both parties.

With a voice message, you’re not putting pressure on someone to drop what they’re doing and entertain you, but you are giving them a slightly more animated version of events than the standard keyboard allows.

I am fully aware that not everyone likes to do the same, but it was news to me to hear that being a recipient isn’t exactly appealing either.

Personally, I love when friends leave me voice messages; I like hearing their voice, their pronunciation of certain words, and the intonation they put on particular phrases. And if I can’t listen to it immediately, I genuinely look forward to pressing ‘play’ at the next opportunity.

But no, I don’t love them enough to take a phone call.

Now, what about you? Have you transitioned from the standard written message to the voice message?

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